The story is set soon after the reunification of West and East Germany, and is about the disintegrating relationship between Jockel, a political activist and Stefan, a heroin junkie, and their involvement with bisexual Micha. Micha's young son Sascha is fascinated with the creepy, exhibitionist puppeteer Firlefanz, whose grotesque puppets enact a gay fairy tale paralleling the relationship of Stefan and Jockel. Central to the disintegration of these characters is the drug dealer Ingolf, who 'pulls their strings' with heroin, instead of puppet wires.